Waterside Workshops

Nonprofit Issues:

Arts & Culture, Children & Youth, Job Training, Environment

Address:

84 Bolivar Dr. BerkeleyCA94710USA

Mission:

Learning the value of building something with your hands teaches many things that can be used throughout a lifetime. Waterside Workshops offers a safe and welcoming atmosphere where teamwork, dedication, sustainability, and responsibility are instilled in students through learning handcrafts and skills. People from all walks of life are welcome and it is our hope that all students will gain knowledge and self-awareness that will lead them in the right direction in their daily lives.

Programs:

Waterside Workshops Consists of three programs, Berkeley Boathouse, Street Level Cycles, and Sew Your Own.
Berkeley Boathouse students are involved in the construction of a boat from the beginning to the end, starting with raw wood, and finishing with a boat that is ready for the water. Students learn safety in the wood shop, basic boat design, hand-tool use, knot tying, shaping structural members, smoothing rough surfaces, wood identification, and much more. It has been said that once you can build a boat, you can build pretty much anything! All levels of experience welcome. Street Level Cycles is a community bike shop that offers free services to people in need, and provides a safe and fun learning environment for people of all ages. Students start with the basics of bike mechanics and work their way up to advanced wrenching. Street Level Cycles is unique in that it functions as a real bike shop, but focuses on community education. This offers a great job-training and skill-building opportunity for youths.
Sew Your Own students learn the basics of sewing, learning the ins and outs of sewing machines and tools, and then moving on to making a project. Possible projects range from hand bags, to clothes, to tool carriers. Also, kids who are interested in other Waterside Workshops programs such as Berkeley Boathouse and Street Level Cycles, may have the chance to sew up a sail for a boat or a messenger bag for bike riding. Any skill level is welcome.

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Reviews for Waterside Workshops

What a wonderful place! This organization does amazing things with youth and provides great services to the public like a community bike shop, boat rentals, and some of the best coffee I have had in the Bay Area. This small organization is a wonderful place to send your year-end donations. They are efficient and have very little overhead cost, so every dollar you donate will directly impact youth in the community.